Subsequently, he completed his PhD in Aerospace engineering from IIT, Bombay in 2006.

He joined ISRO in 1982 in Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) project and contributed immensely towards end to end mission planning, mission design, mission integration and analysis. He held various responsibilities during his stint in ISRO.

Sivan, who will succeed incumbent A S Kiran Kumar for a three-year term, has numerous publications in various journals and is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, Aeronautical Society of India and Systems Society of India.

He has received various awards throughout his career, including Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai in April 2014 and Shri Hari Om Ashram Prerit Dr Vikram Sarabhai Research award for 1999.

"I congratulate you on your appointment as the Chairman of ISRO. It is a matter of pride for Tamil Nadu that a person from our state has attained such a high position through ability and dint of his hard work," Palaniswami said.

In his congratulatory letter to Sivan, Palaniswami said his appointment "is a fitting recognition of your long and distinguished career in space research."

"On behalf of the people and Government of Tamil Nadu, I congratulate you on your elevation and wish you all success in your new position," he added.

"My hearty congratulations to Dr K Sivan on his appointment as Chairman of ISRO. I wish him extraordinary success in his efforts to take our nation's space establishment @isro to further heights," he said in a tweet.